Detachable casket-handle.



J. M. DODIDRIDGE 6:: J. G. BECK.

DBTAOHABLB GASKET HANDLE.

APPLICATION FILED D120. 26, 1011.

Patented Aug. 4, 1911 [.VVENTORS: W y

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHOTO-LITHOU WASHINGTON. D C.

earns ATENT OFFICE;

JAMES M. DODDRIDGE, OF MILTON, AND JOHN C. BECK, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

DETACHATBLE CASKET-HANDLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES M. Dononmen and JOHN C. BECK, citizens of the United States, residing at Milton, in the county of WVayne, and at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion, respectively, and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Detachable Casket-Handle, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to portable casings or boxes, especially to burial caskets or coffins, the invention having reference more particularly to detachable handles therefor.

The primary object of the invention is to provide improved detachable handles and connections therefor that shall be so constructed as to be especially adapted for use on coffins or the like and adapted to be quickly removed; a further object being to provide simple and relatively inexpensive removable handles and connections therefor that will permit customers to select a suitable style of coffin or casket with inexpensive attachments to which any one of the different styles of handles preferred may be detachably connected, a still further object being to provide burial caskets at a relatively small cost without permanent handles 1 and permitting the funeral director to loan the handles to the purchaser of the casket until the conclusion of the burial ceremonies.

The invention consists in an inclosing receptacle having a plurality of holding devices permanently secured thereto and adapted to removably secure handle-frames to the receptacle, the handle-frames having suitable handles connected thereto; and the invention consists further in novel holding devices and in novel handleframes, and also in the parts and combinations and arrange- .ments of parts as hereinafter particularly described and. pointed out in the accompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a burial casket or coflin provided with the improved detachable handles; Fig. 2, a fragmentary vertical section approximately on the line A A in Fi 1; Fig. 3, a vertical section as on the line B B in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a fragmentary vertical section approximately on the line C C Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. December 26, 1911.

Patented AU -4c, 1914:.

Serial No. 667,897.

in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a rear perspective view of the improved handle-frame, and Fig. 6, a fragmentary perspective View, showing a portion of the casket to which one of the handle-frame holders is connected.

Similar reference characters throughout the drawings indicate corresponding elements or features of construction herein referred to.

The casket or receptacle may be variously constructed in detail and the sides 1 thereof are each provided with a suitable number of handles for conveniently carrying the casket, and the handles 2, 2, may be of any suitable or desired design, the handles being suitably connected to handle-frames 3, 3', respectively. Preferably the handles are designed to drop when not in use, the frames being provided with pivoting ears 4, 1, and each handle has two arms 5 and 5 that are connected to the cars by means of pivots 6 and 6 respectively. The handle-frames may be composed either of pressed plate metal or of cast metal and in any suitable design. The rear side of each frame 3, 3, has two guide bars 7 and 8 thereon that are suitably spaced apart and arranged parallel one to another,

and they extend horizontally and-arc nearly as long as the frame in horizontal direction. The frame 3 is suitably dished so that the edge portion thereof forms a flange-like rearward extension or hearing flange 9 adapted to serve as a base in contact with the side 1 of the casket. The guide bar 7 has a flange-likc lug, or preferably two lugs 10 and 11 thereon that extend toward the companion guide bar 8, the lugs being suitably spaced apart so as to leave a gap between them, one lug being arranged at a suitable distance from one end of the guide bar and the other lug extending from the opposite end of the guide bar. The guide bar 8 has also a flange-like lug, or preferably two lugs 12 and 13 extending toward the lugs 10 and 11, being arranged oppositely thereto. The guide bar 7 has a stop bar let connected to the end thereof from which the lug 11 extends and the stop bar is connected also to the end of the lug, a similar stop bar 15 being arranged oppositely to the stop bar 14- and connected to the guide bar 8 and the lug 13, said stop bars being fixedly connected also to the rear side of the frame 3. The middle portion of the frame preferably has a set-screw 16 inserted therein so as to eX- tend rearwardly, the outeror forward end of the set-screw being provided with a knurled head 17.

In order to detachably connect each handleframe to the casket or box the sides 1 are provided with a suitable number of permanently secured holders, which, however, may be detached if desired, each holder comprising a base plate 18 which is secured tothe side of the casket preferably by means of screws 19, 19, the plate having twoguide bars 20 and 21 thereon that extend forwardly and are parallel one to another, being spaced a suitable distance apart so as to enter between the ends of the lugs of the oppositely arranged guide bars 7 and 8. The guide bar 20 as preferably constructed has two flangedike lugs 22 and 23 thereon that extend upwardly from the guide bar, and the guide bar 21 has two lugs 24 and 25 thereon that extend downwardly parallel to the plane of the base plate 18. The lugs 22 and 23 are adapted to be engaged by the lugs 10 and 11 respectively, the lugs 2st and 25 being adapted to be engagedby the lugs 12 and 13 respectively, while the frame is guided by means of the guide bars 7 and 8 in contact with the guide bars 20 and 21 respectively, for holding the bearing flange 9 of the frame in contact with the side of the casket. The frame is prevented from being accidentally moved horizontally by means of the set-screw 16.

It should be understood that in some cases, especially if a relatively small handle-frame is preferred, the lugs 11 and 13 may be omitted from the guide bars 7 and 8 respectively, in which case the lugs 23 and 25 may be omitted from the guide-bars 20 and 21 respectively.

It should be understood that the improved handle-frames and holders therefor are to be used not only withcoffins or caskets but also with the inclosing'boxes in which the caskets or coffins are placed in graves.

In practical use the handle frame 3 is placed at the front of the base plate 18 and the guide bars 7 and 8 are then moved into contact with the ends of the lugs on the'base plate 1S, the frame being somewhat at one side of its normal position so that the lug 10 may pass between the lugs 22 and 23 and the lug 12 pass between the lugs 24: and 25, and when the frame is moved backto the side of the casket the frame may be moved longitudinally so that the respective lugs are brought into engagement as herein-before specified, and then the set-screw 16 may, if desired, be forced into contact with the base plate 18 for securely holding the frame with the lugs 22 and 24 in contact withthe stop bars 14 and 15 respectively. The lugs of the frame cooperating with the lugs on the base plate 18 enables the handle-frames to lift the plate within the confines of the flange,

each bar having a lug thereon extending toward the lug of the opposite one of the bars, for connection with and inclosing a.

holder having a pair of lugs.

2. A handle frame comprising a plate having a bearing flange, and two guide bars secured to the plate within the confines of the flange, each bar having two lugs spaced apart thereon and extending toward the lugs of the remaining one of the bars, one of the two lugs being arranged at a distance from one end of the bar and the other lug extending from the opposite end of the bar, for connection with and inclosing a holder having two pairs ofilugs.

3. A detachable handlecomprising a base plate, having two guide bars thereon pro vided each with alug, a frame having two guide bars thereon provided each with a lug, the lugs of the guide bars that are on the frame being detachably connected with the lugs of the guide bars that are on the-base plate, a set-screw inserted in the frame and seated against thebase plate, and a handle on the frame.

41-. In a burial casket handle, the combination with a handle of a handle holder comprising a normally upright base plate having two horizontally extending guide bars thereon that extend also outwardly in parallel order, one guide bar above the other, the uppermost one of the guide bars having two upwardly'extending lugs thereon, the

lower bar having two downwardly extend-- ing lugs thereon, a frame connected to the handle and having two guide bars thereon, extending oppositely above and below the upper and lower guide bars of the base re spectively and having lugs thereon engaging the aforementioned lugs, saidframe having stop-bars thereon engaging one of the lugs of each of the guide bars that are on the base plate, and a set-screw inserted in the frame and seated against said base plate.

5. A detachable casket handle comprising a base plate having two longitudinally extending parallel guide bars thereon, each guide bar having two lugs spaced apart thereon that extend outward away from the lugs of the oppositebar, a frame having two longitudinally extending parallel guide bars on the back thereof having each two inwardly extending lugs spaced apart thereon engaging the aforementioned :lugs and removably connecting the frame to the base In testimony whereof, we afiix our signaplate, the frame having a stop bar thereon tures m presence of two witnesses.

engaging one of the lugs of one of the quide JAMES M. DODDRIDGE. bars that are on the base plate, the Frame JOHN C. BECK. 5 having also an inclosing flange extending Witnesses:

about all the guide bars, and a handle con- E. T. SILvIUs, nected to said frame. P. A. HAVELIOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenta. 1

Washington, I. G. 

